My husband and I have been married for 27 years. With the exception of the year I gave birth on Good Friday and the year I was 8 months pregnant with twins, we have spent Easter with my husband’s people.
His uncle is a priest and he would say Mass for our family at 1 pm on Easter Sunday. We would have a meal following. Granny would put together an Easter egg hunt with cash prizes. When the bulk of the grand kids were younger, she put together real, real nice Easter bags full of treasures from Oriental Trading.
We knew it wouldn’t last forever.
This is the year. My father-in-law passed away in August 2015. Christmas was Father Ed’s last Mass. My mother-in-law moved to assisted living. Brothers and sisters are navigating new territory.
Easter will not be our traditional get together for many, many reasons.
We will travel the 3 hours on Saturday to see my MIL for the afternoon returning to our house on Saturday night. This will the first time my kids have attended Mass on Easter at our home church. We are having dinner at our house. My mom is going to come and be with us for dinner.
It’ll be ok. We all knew it wouldn’t last forever. Traditions change. New territory is forged. It’ll will be ok.
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The Hays Crew 
It will be more than OK. I am sure the change will be difficult, but you will be together with your own little family and maybe a new tradition will be born.
My kids are little ‘lost’ by the changes. We knew that when both parents passed that the large family dinners would go away, but we didn’t expect it to happen now. Thanks for your encouraging words!
I’m sorry. I can hear your disappointment and your sense of loss come through your words. Even though you knew it was wouldn’t last forever, and that change was inevitable, change is still hard. I just want to wrap my arms around your shoulders and give you a big hug. It is hard saying goodbye to beautiful traditions.
Thank you for your kind words. I can feel your hugs!
Life change is always difficult. Blessing to you.